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Abstract

Recently, many Japanese pediatric surgeons undertake clinical training abroad, especially in the United States of America (USA) which is one of the most attractive country for advanced clinical training. Since the Japanese government introduced a 2-year mandatory residency program in 2004, it has become more and more important for busy Japanese residents to spent time efficiently in order to achieve ECFMG (Educational Commission For Foreign Medical Graduates) certification.ECFMG certification requires residents to pass both Step 1 and 2 of the United States Medical License Examination (USMLE). It is especially difficult to pass step2 CS (Clinical Skills) for many Japanese who are unfamiliar with the English language. For example, one of authors started to study for the USMLE in the 6th grade of the Japanese Medical School (MS4), passed step1 and step2 CK (Clinical Knowledge) during the 2-year mandatory intensive rotating residency program, and passed Step2 CS on the 3rd attempt during the general surgery residency program. This shows that a Japanese examinee can pass the ECFMG certificate even during a busy rotating residency program.